[SpookG]

The reason nader is running is the same any third party candidate would run.. If the two main parties want the votes he will soak up, then they better start addressing the issues he is trying to raise, because what would anyone want to vote for Nader for when Kerry champions the majority of his ideas and then some?

It has been how American politics have worked since its creation. third parties gain momentum and then the two main parties absorb the ideas or get destroyed. The Republican party was actually a third party way back around when Lincoln became president. What happened is the ideas of the older party, The Federalists grew out of touch with the people and they lost their power base because no one wanted to believe their ideas anymore.

it is actually better for everyone if we applaud nader, because he is keeping American politics alive.

I'm not going to vote for him, oh hell no, but those people who voted for bush in the first election could of just as easily voted for Gore, so I see it no more his fault than Bush's.